Sheet glass apparatus



Aug. 15, 1933. .J REDSHAW 1,922,327

SHEET GLASS APPARATUS Filed June 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l 72 INVENTORAug. 15, J REDSHAW SHEET GLAS S APPARATUS Filed June 29, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 2 g a g ljll/ENFFOR @rzam Aug. 15, 1933. H E AW l 1,922,327

SHEET GLASS APPARATUS Filed June 29. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3llnlllll'il'llv I lllrll 'lllllllllll I INVENTOR 1933- J. H. REDSHAWSHEET GLASS APPARATUS Filed June 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet Patented Aug.15, 1933 1,922,227 SHEET GLASS APPARATUS Joseph Redshaw, Homestead Park,Pa., as-

signor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, a

Corporation of 'Iennsylvania Application June 29, 1932. Serial No.619,8-52 19 Claims. (01. 49- 50) The invention relates to themanufacture'of :sheet glass by the vertical drawing method, and hasparticularly to do with the last stageof the operation involving theengagement of the sheet above the leer, its removal after the severanceof the sheetsand the trimming off of theedges of 'thesheetbymeanscarried on the transporting device. The invention constitutes animprovemerit over the apparatusof my pending applicall) tion,. SerialNo. 598,437, filed March 12, 1932. Such pending application discloses anapparatus ofparticular utility in drawing and handling very large sheetsof glass, the handling apparatus being utilized to support the upper endof the glass The edge trimming preferably comprises a pair ofelectrically heated wires or ribbons at each edgewof the sheet whichengagethe glass on its opposite sides, thisgiving an increased heatingeffect as compared with a single-wire or ribbon,

but the invention is not limited to either arranges 11181113, both beingknown inthe art, and further is not limited to electrical securingortriinming means, as various mechanical means also well known in theart, mightbe employedfab thoughfthe electrical severing means presentssubstantial advantages. 1 The edges will sometimes drop off after theheating operationby the wires, but ordinarily a cold or wettedmetalmemis touched to the line-of heating to cause the tual cracking off ofthe edge strips; the transier device being positioned at such time overa cullet box to receive'the wasteglass. 1 This method of edge severancepresents very substantial ad- I vantages over the electrical methodheretofore employed of applying the ribbons or wires during the; drawingoperation and then cracking oif such edges after the sheets are placedon the receiving racks, one advantage being due to the fact with thepresent inethod, the cracking off of the edges can be accomplishedscenes the ribbons sheets were placed in the storage racks; {The 5ribbon before the sheetis severed and toapplyfa frame.

objects of the invention are the provision of ,a suitable apparatus forcarrying out the operation as above outlined, which is simple inconstruction reliable in operation, and which can be easily handled bythe workmen without the application of any special skill. One embodimentof the inventionisillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: p

Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the supporting frame shown inFig. 1. is a detail view. and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged detailviews, the section shown in Fig. '7 being taken on the line 'VII VII ofFig. 6.

Referring to the general arrangement as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, thereference numeral 1 indinotes the upper end of a glass sheet which isbeing continuously formed in a sheet glass drawing apparatus, not shown,and lying beneath the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; This sheetdrawing apparatus may be of any approved form, such as the well-knownFourcault or Sling-v luff apparatus whichinvolves the use of a verticalleer provided with rollers for drawing thecontinuous sheet or ribbonwhich is cut into sections and handled as hereinafter described. The,apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises an overhead track 1 onwhich is mounted a trolley.

2 supporting the conveyor frame 3, such frame being swivelled on theshaft. ias described in my copending application heretofore referred to.The conveyor frameis made upof pipe sections 5, 6, 7,8, etc.securedtogether as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 and on this frame ismounted for vertical movement a vacuum frame including the 9 members 9,1c, 11, 1 2, 13 and 14;suchframe being guided on the pipe members 5. 5by means of the cross heads 15, 15. The vacuum frame carries onitsfrontside 6 vacuum cups lfizconnected by suitable piping as shownandincluding the hose 17 with a valve casing 18, to which a vacuum line.is connected, the application and release. of vacuum being accomplishedin the usual way by the manipulation of the ,valve 19., Power means areprovided for moving the vacuum frame up and down on the conveyor framein the form of an electric motor 20 mounted upon a platform 21 andarranged to drive the shaft 22 through the intermediary of the gears 23and suitable reduction gearing in the casing 24. The shaft 22 isprovided with drums 25 carrying cables 26 whose lower ends are attachedtothe eye bolts 27 secured to the channel 10 which constitutes the uppertransverse member of the vacuum At each end of the vacuum frame edge,trimming or severing means are provided in the form of electricallyheated resistance wires or ribbons arranged in pairs, the members ofwhich pairs lie on opposite sides of the glass sheet. The resistancemembers 28, 29 (Fig. 5) are in the form of ribbons backed up by stripsof asbestos 30, 31 carried by vertical channels 32, 33. Suitableprovision is made for stretching the ribbons tight under varyingconditions as is well-known in the art. In this case, the ribbons arefixed against movement at their lower extremities, while tension isapplied by means of springs at their upper extremities, this beingindicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The springs 34, 34 apply tension to thelevers 35, 35 connected at their inner ends to the ends of the heatingribbons. The channels 33 which support the ribbons that engage the rearface of the sheet are each mounted upon a pair of arms 36 pivoted uponthe vertical shaft 37, while the channels 32 which carry the ribbonsengaging the front face of the glass are each mounted upon a pair ofarms 38 which are also pivoted upon the vertical shaft 37. The arms 38are connected to the channels 32 so as to permit such channels and theribbons carried thereby to have a limited vertical movement with respectto the glass sheet, and this is accomplished as indicated most clearlyin Fig. wherein the arms 38 are shown as provided with shafts 39slidable vertically through lugs 40, il carried by the channels 32.Springs 40 are provided on the shafts 39 to cushion the downwardmovement of the channels 32 which carry the heating ribbons. The fork 42in conjunction with the spring 43 (Fig. 6) are provided in order to holdthe channel 32 in its upper position when the cracking off ribbons arefirst applied to the glass sheet. At this time, the lower ends of theseribbons lie just above the transverse ribbon which is employed withapparatus of this type for severing the glass sheet from the main bodyof the ribbon emerging from the leer and it is practically im possibleto bring the lines of heating of the ribbons 28 and 29 down to a pointwhere they cross or intersect the transverse line of heating. As aresult, the cracking off of the side edges at their extreme lower endsis liable to be imperfect and the expedient as above described isintended to overcome this difficulty, as after the glass is cut offtransversely, the operator is able to move the channel 32 carrying theribbon 28 downward 'by applying the slight amount of downwardpresframework of the vacuum frame, this being accomplished by means ofthreaded portions 49 working through nuts 50 swivelled in the blocks 48.The nuts 50 have their outer surfaces formed into spiral gears 51 whichare engaged by the gears 52, 53 mounted on a vertical shaft 53 (Figs. 1and 2). This shaft 53 is provided at its lower end with a handle 54. Byrotating the handle 54 and the gearing operated thereby, it is thuspossible to move the bracket members 4'7 in and out, thus adjusting theposition of the heating ribbons 28 and 29 with respect to the edge ofthe sheet which is to be trimmed. This is desirable inasmuch as thesheet may vary in width.

The arms 36 which carry the channels 33 supporting the ribbon 29 aremounted for move ment through a wide are, as indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 5, so that the channel and ribbon may be swung entirely to oneside of the sheet either when positioning the apparatus or after thesheet has been carried by the conveyor to discharge position. The lowerarm 36 of each pair is provided with a handle 55 carrying a latch 56 sothat when the arms are swung to the dotted line position, the parts maybe locked in this position by the latch 56 which engages a suitable lug57 secured to the bracket 4.7. The arms 36 are normally moved tooperative position as shown by Fig. 5 and the ribbon 29 caused toyieldingly engage the glass by the use of the spring 58 (Fig. 6) whichis coiled around the shaft 37 and secured at one end to the arm 36 andat its other end to the bracket 47.

The glass sheet 1 as it emerges from the leer is not always in avertical plane, but is ordinarily tilted one way or the other and it is,therefore, desirable that the vacuum frame be arranged to tiltcorrespondingly when it is applied to the glass. This tilting movementis possible by reason of the mounting of the brackets 47 in the brackets48 and any desired position of adjustmentis maintained by means of theconnecting rod 59 (Fig. 1) secured at one end to the vacuum frame and atits other end to a lever 60 pivoted to conveyor frame and moving over asuitable quadrant 61 also secured to the conveyor frame, a latch 62being provided to hold the lever 60 in any desired position ofadjustment.

In securing the engagement of the vacuum frame with the glass sheet, itis necessary to apply some pressure against the sheet and in order toavoid any tendency to break the sheet due to this pressure, it isdesirable to provide means for supporting the rear face of the glassduring the step of securing the application of the vacuum cups to theglass. I preferably accomplish this result by the use of the framework63 (Fig. 1)

. which is supported upon the wheels 64 and 65 and held against backwardmovement by means of the blocks 66. The framework is provided with aplurality of transverse shafts 65a on which are mounted the rubber tiredrollers 65b adapted to engage the rear face of the glass sheet which isbeing drawn. In order to provide for tilting the frame to correspond tothe angle at which the sheet 1 may be tilted, the frame is mounted foradjustment around the axles of the front wheels 65, and the rear wheels65 are mounted on swinging arms 67 pivoted at 68. The axles of thesewheels carry blocks 69 and '70 (Fig. 3) upon which are mounted thesprings '71. Adjustment is made to vary the angle of the frame by meansof the 1 screws '72 which extend through brackets carried by the frameand engage plates '73 mounted upon the upper ends of the springs. Theyielding support of the frame is desirable as it reduces any tendency tobreakage due to the pressure exerted by the vacuum cups upon the glasswhen such cups are pressed against the glass in order to secureengagement.

The operation in using the apparatus is as follows: Assuming that theframework 63 is in position and a length of glass has been fed up to apoint above the upper row of vacuum cups, as indicated in Fig. 2, thevacuum cups are at this time out of contact with the glass sheet and thetransfer frame is pushed to the left (Fig. 1) to the position indicated,thus bringing the vacuum cups into engagement with the glass sheets,after whi ch the valve 18 isoperated to secure engag'ement of the cups.During the application of the cups, the motor 20 is operated so that thevacuum frame whichsupports the cups is moved upward and after the cupshaveengaged, this upward movement of the vacuum frames assists inlifting mond or by electrical cutting off means such as that shown inthe Slinglufl Patent No. 1,373,533. As soon as the sheet is severed, thetransfer frame is movedto the rear ,andthe latch 56 released from thestop 57 so that the arms 36 are swung fromthe dotted line position ofFig. 5 to the full line position, thus bringing the heating ribbon 29into engagement with the glass sheet. Either j automatically or by theuse of a hand switch," sufficient current is supplied through theribbons to heat the glass to thepoint necessary for cracking off theedges of the sheet. In order to speed up i this heating up operation, itis desirableto keep i on a small amount of current upon, the heatingwires 28 and 29at all times so that they will have a temperature of 300or 400 degrees when they first engagethe glass. After the heatingribbons have been in engagement with the glassfor a few seconds, thechannel iron32 carrying the ribbon 28 is pushed down to the positionshown in Fig. 6 releasing the hook 42 from the springs 43 andcari'yingthe lower end of the ribbon 28 to a point below the lower edgeof the glass sheet carried by the vacuum cups, the object being asheretofore pointed out, to insure that the vertical line of heatingshall extend clear to the edge of the sheet.

After a few seconds more, the ribbon 29 may be disengaged from the glassand this is accomplished bythe operator grasping the handles carried onthe lower arms 36 and swinging them to the dotted line positions shownin Fig. 5, at which point the parts are held in positionby means of thedog or latch 56. The lines of heating at each edge of the sheet may nowbe touched with a cold tool to start the cracking action, and the edgeswill crack off and drop down, the conveyor at this time being preferablypositioned over a cullet box-to receive the waste glass. The conveyormay now be brought to position opposite a rack or frame on which theglass is to be placed in an upright position slightly inclined from avertical plane. This positioningon the rack is accomplished by bringingthe conveyor to a point where the lower edge of the glass sheetsupported on the vacuum frame is over the bottom member of therack,after which a reverseoperation'of the motor 201owers the sheet sothat its edge engages the rack. At this time, the vacuum in the cups isbroken by operating the valve 19 and the sheet is thus disposed on theof the glass sheet during the periodof transfer. The invention is notlimited to the particular method of operation heretofore recited as itispossible to manipulate the apparatus in various Ways. .If desired, theheatingribbons 28 and 29 might beapplied to the glass sheet before theglass sheet is cut off from the main body of the.

ribbon, although it is more convenient to operate as heretoforedescribed. if desired, the

movement,

application of current to the heating ribbons may'be made automatic aswell as the breaking of the circuit supplying the current to the ribbonsafter a predetermined interval of time. The apparatus may also bearranged to apply current automatically to the heating ribbons when thearms 36 are moved to their operative full line positions as shown inFig. 5. Various details of construction may also be modified dependingupon the particular conditions to which the apparatus is subject.

What I claim is:

1, In combination in apparatus for handli" and trimming glass sheets cutfrom a continuous sheet or ribbonemerging from a vertical leer, conveyorframe mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuum frameprovided with vacuum cups carried by the conveyor frame, and severingdevices carried by the vacuum frame and adapted to trim on; the verticalside oi the glass sheet supported by the vacuum frame.

2. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetsout from a continuous sheetor ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement,avacuum frameprovided with vacuum cups mounted for vertical movement on the conveyorframe, power means for moving the vacuum frame upward on the'conveyorframe, severing devices carried by the vacuum frame adapted to trim offthe vertical side edges of the sheet sup-- portedby the vacuum frame,and means for adjusting the cutting devices laterally with respect tothe vacuum frame.

3. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuumframe provided w vacuum cups mounted for vertical movement on theconveyor frame and for tilting movement with respect thereto, powermeans for movii vacuum frame upward. on the conveyor severing devicescarried by the vacuum ll. adapted to trim off the vertical side edges ofsheet supported by the vacuum frame. ar for adjusting thecutting'devices laterall respect to the vacuum frame.

4. In combination in apparatus villi with for handling n and trimmingglass sheets cutfrcm a continuous 1 sheet or ribbon emerging from avertical leer, a

conveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral a vacuum frameprovided with Vacuum cups mounted for vertical movementon V the conveyorframe, power means for moving the vacuum frame upward on the conveyorframe,

and vertical resistance members heated by electricity carried by thevacuum frame position to engage the side edges of a glass sheetsupported.

; on the vacuum cups.

5. ln combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, a

conveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuumframe provi ed with vacuum cups mounted for vertical movement on theconveyor frame, power means focmovlng" the on thevacuumbups on the sideof the sheet engaged by said cups, a movable vertical resistance memberalso heated by electricity and carried by the vacuum frame in oppositionto each of said fixed resistance members, and means for moving themovable resistance members to cause them to press the glass sheetagainst the fixed resistance members.

6. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuumframe provided with vacuum cups mounted for vertical movement on theconveyor frame, power means for moving the vacuum frame upward on theconveyor frame, and severing devices carried by the vacuum frame adaptedto trim off the vertical side edges of the sheet supported by saidframe, said devices each comprising a pair of vertical resistanceelements electrically heated with the members of each pair on oppositesides of the sheet in yielding engagement therewith.

7. In combination in apparatus for handlingand trimming glass sheets cutfrom a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuumframe provided with vacuum cups mounted for vertical movement on theconveyor frame, power means for moving the vacuum frame upward on theconveyor frame and severing devices carried by the vacuum frame adaptedto trim off the vertical side edges of the sheet supported by saidframe, said devices each comprising a pair of vertical resistanceelements electrically heated with the element of each pair which lies onthe side of the sheet remote from the vacuum cups mounted for movementsuch that it may be swung to a position at one side of the edge of thesheet.

8. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuumframe provided with vacuum cups mounted for vertical movement on theconveyor frame, power means for moving the vacuum frame upward on theconveyor frame and severing devices carried by the vacuum frame adaptedto trim off the vertical side edges of the sheet supported by saidframe, said devices each comprising a pair of vertical resistanceelements electrically heated with the element of each pair which lies onthe side of the sheet remote from the vacuum cups mounted for movementsuch that it may be swung to a position at one side of the edge of thesheet and spring means for normally swinging the movable elements tobring them to operative position.

9. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuumframe provided with vacuum cups carried by the conveyor frame and meansfor engaging and supporting the rear face of the glass sheet being drawnwhich extends above the leer when the vacuum cups are pressed againstthe front face of the sheet.

10. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuumframe provided with vacuum cups carried by the conveyor frame, androller members for engaging and supporting the rear face of the glasssheet being drawn which extends above the leer when the vacuum cups arepressed against the front face of the sheet.

11. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement a vacuumframe provided with vacuum cups carried by the conveyor frame andyielding means for engaging and supporting the rear face of the glasssheet being drawn which extends above the leer when the vacuum cups arepressed against. the front face of the sheet.

12. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuumframe provided with vacuum cups carried by the conveyor frame,

and a frame mounted on the rear side of the glass sheet being drawn andprovided with a plurality of rollers adapted to engage the rear face ofsaid sheet being drawn which extends above the leer when the vacuum cupsare pressed against the front face of the sheet.

13. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuumframe provided with vacuum cups carried by the conveyor frame, a framemounted on the rear side of the glass sheet being drawn and providedwith means adapted to engage the rear face. of said sheet which extendsabove the leer when the vacuum cups are pressed against the front faceof the sheet, and yielding means for holding the frame in operativeposition.

14. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuumframe provided with vacuum cups carried by the conveyor frame, and aremovable yielding frame mounted on the rear side of the glass sheetbeing drawn and provided with means adapted to engage the rear face ofsaid sheet which extends above the leer when the vacuum cups are pressedagainst the front face of the sheet.

15. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuumframe provided with vacuum cups carried by the conveyor frame, a framemounted on the rear side of the glass sheet being drawn and providedwith means adapted to engage the rear face of said sheet which extendsabove the leer when the vacuum cups are pressed against the front faceof the sheet, and means for adjusting the frame so that it tilts awayfrom a vertical plane.

16. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, a

conveyor frame mounted above the leer for lat- I 13. In combination inapparatus for handling and trimming glass sheets cut from a continuoussheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, a

conveyor frame mounted above the leer for lateral movement, a vacuumframe provided with vacuum cups mounted for vertical movement on theconveyor frame, power means for moving the vacuum frame upward on theconveyor frame, brackets mounted for sliding vertical movement on thevacuum frame, and vertical resistance members heated by electricitycarried by the brackets in position to engage the side edges of a glasssheet supported on the vacuum cups.

19. In combination in apparatus for handling and trimming glass sheetscut from a continuous sheet or ribbon emerging from a vertical leer, aconveyor frame mounted above the leer forlateral movement, a vacuumframe provided with vacuum cups mounted for vertical movement on theconveyor frame, power means for moving the vacuum frame upward on theconveyor frame, brackets mounted for sliding vertical movement on thevacuum frame, springs for cushioning the brackets at their lowerextremes of movement, and vertical resistance members heated byelectricity carried by the brackets in position to engage the side edgesof a glass sheet supported on the vacuum cups.

I JOSEPH H. REDSHAW.

